TeleChoice Premier League – Round 1 Wrap
Eighteen goals were scored on the opening day of the competition with the so-called ?new-boys? making a huge splash amongst their more established opponents.
West Sydney Berries, who had a disastrous start in the Johnny Warren Cup in pre-season, caused the upset of the Round in the opening match of the season.
Scott Baillies? team defeated pre-season favourite Sydney Olympic in a gutsy performance that fully warranted the ?new boys? the three-points, meanwhile Macarthur Rams also captured a huge result ? a 1-1 away draw against Marconi Stallions.
Ryan Jones, John Tsironis and Sash Tirovski found the back of the net in a spectacular second-half performance by the Berries, cancelling out Sydney Olympic?s go-ahead goal by Michael Cindric.
Daniel McCann was the hero for Macarthur Rams as he fired a lethal effort into the top corner of the net to secure the Rams a point.
Nathan Moulds had earlier put the Stallions ahead, though despite their monopoly on the clear-cut chances, Marconi could not convert their efforts into goals.
Bankstown City, another side that showed impressive pre-season form, fell horribly to Manly United FC, a side that certainly needs to be taken seriously this season.
Phil Moss? men performed in emphatic style last season to finish in the top-four and 2008 seems certain to bring the side more success.
Manly striker Robbie Cattanach has not lost one bit of his accuracy in-front of goal, the tall striker picked up from where he finished last season as he opened his Premier League goals account with a hat-trick against a severely shocked Bankstown City outfit.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers? have a mountain to climb after yet another disappointing performance.
The pre-season defeats were not of too much concern for the former Johnny Warren Cup Champions, though a heavy loss to Sutherland Sharks ? led by the impressive Brad Boardman ? now raises some question over the side?s temperament for the season ahead.
The Tigers were reduced to nine-men at Seymour Shaw as Brendan Gan, Brad Boardman, Jimmy Lawrence and Matthew Hall all got on the score-sheet for the Shire boys, with Robbie Younis scoring for the Tigers.
Sydney United stated their case for a big campaign ahead with a business-like performance against Blacktown City Demons. Goals from Christopher Boyle, Elsid Barkhousir and Luka Glavas ended the defending Champions chances – in their opening match at home. Leo Carle?s 25-yard screamer was the only real shining light for Ken Schembri?s men.
Wollongong FC again failed to secure a first-round win in the Premier League competition after a brave Penrith-Nepean United performance held John Turner?s men to a 0-0 draw.
Penrith-Nepean United almost stole the points late in the match ? despite going a man down ? with new signing Ozzy Kanyilmaz from Turkey starring for Abbas Saad?s men.
-By Joseph Carlucci
TELECHOICE PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS:
ROUND ONE:
FIRST GRADE: West Sydney Berries 3 (Ryan Jones 53m John Tsironis 61m Sash Tirovski 84m) Sydney Olympic 1 (Michael Cindric 16m), Blacktown City Demons 1 (Leo Carle 16m) Sydney United 3 (Christopher Boyle 6m Elsid Barkhousir 39m Luka Glavas 42m pen), Marconi Stallions 1 (Nathan Moulds 25m) Macarthur Rams 1 (Daniel McCann 72m), Wollongong FC 0 Penrith Nepean United 0, Sutherland Sharks 4 (Brendan Gan 27m Bradley Boardman 72m Jimmy Lawrence 75m Matthew Hall 89m) APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1 (Robert Younis 13m), Bankstown City FC 0 Manly United FC 3 (Robert Cattanach 22/85/90m).
GRADE 20: West Sydney Berries 3 Sydney Olympic 1, Blacktown City Demons 1 Sydney United 5, Marconi Stallions 3 Macarthur Rams 0, Wollongong Wolves 4 Penrith Nepean United 2, Sutherland Sharks 3 APIA Leichhardt Tigers 0, Bankstown City FC 2 Manly United FC 2, NSWIS 0 Sydney Olympic 2.
Full reports can be viewed in the TeleChoice Premier League section.
